Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole

Name: Creamy Baked Green Beans
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 1 can Cream of mushroom soup; 2 cans Green beans, drained; 1/4 cup Milk; 1 tsp Soy sauce; 1 1/3 cup French fried onions

No ratings yet

No Comments Jump to Recipe

A fun and delicious way to make everyone’s favorite creamy baked green beans in the air fryer.

Cathy Yoder Published on November 11, 2025 The links in the post below may be affiliate links. Read the full disclosure

Creamy Green Bean Casserole – Serves 4–6

creamy air fryer green bean casserole with crispy onions

When the holidays roll around, oven space is prime real estate. This creamy air fryer green bean casserole delivers the classic comfort you love while freeing up the oven for turkey, pies, or rolls. Tender green beans are coated in a velvety mushroom sauce, then finished with a golden, ultra-crisp fried onion topping the air fryer handles like a pro. It’s small-batch friendly, great for smaller dinner parties, or just a party of one! Air fryer green bean casserole cooks fast (15 minutes) and the onions get perfectly crispy. This recipe is great for busy weeknights or your holiday menu.

Why You’ll Love This Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole Recipe

This version keeps the nostalgic flavor profile and fixes common casserole pain points:

No preheating: The air fryer gets hot fast and keeps the kitchen cooler.
Small-batch size: Built for an 8×8-inch dish or cake pan—perfect for 4–6 servings.
Extra-crispy topping: Circulating air toasts fried onions evenly (no soggy onions).
Flexible ingredients: Use canned, frozen, or fresh beans based on what you have.
Holiday-ready: Frees your oven for mains and bakes; scales up easily.

Ingredients & Supplies Needed

ingredients for creamy air fryer green bean casserole

Ingredients (4–6 servings)

2 cans (14.5 oz each) cut green beans, drained (or 1 lb fresh, blanched; or 16 oz frozen, thawed & well dried)
1 can (10.5 oz) condensed cream of mushroom soup
½ cup milk (whole or 2%; for richer, swap 2–3 Tbsp with half-and-half)
1 tsp soy sauce (umami boost)
1⅓ cups french-fried onions, divided
Optional: ¼ cup shredded Parmesan or cheddar; pinch black pepper or garlic powder

No-canned-soup option: Use about 1½ cups of homemade condensed cream of mushroom soup for a from-scratch upgrade.

Supplies

Large mixing bowl & rubber spatula
8×8-inch glass/metal/silicone pan (must fit your air fryer with airflow)
Air fryer (Cosori Pro II is a favorite)

Step-by-Step Instructions for Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole

Step 1: Make the Sauce

mixing creamy mushroom sauce for air fryer green bean casserole

In a mixing bowl, whisk together the soup, milk, soy sauce, and seasonings until smooth. This is your creamy base. For extra richness, stir in a spoonful of sour cream or swap a few tablespoons of milk with half-and-half.

Step 2: Add Beans & Fried Onions

mixing green beans with creamy sauce and onions

Fold in the drained green beans until evenly coated, then stir in about ⅔ cup fried onions (and cheese, if using). Lightly grease your pan, then spread the mixture in an even layer no thicker than 2 inches—this helps heat reach the center and prevents steaming.

Step 3: Air Fry

placing creamy green bean casserole in air fryer basket

Place the pan in the basket. Air fry at 350°F (175°C) for 10–12 minutes, until the sauce is hot and bubbling at the edges. Fresh beans may need 1–2 extra minutes; frozen (thawed and dried) typically align with the 10–12 minute range. Avoid covering the dish—circulating air is what crisps the onions later.

Step 4: Crisp the Topping

adding fried onion topping to green bean casserole

Top with the remaining fried onions and air fry for 2–3 minutes more, just until golden and extra crisp. Let the casserole rest 3–5 minutes so the sauce sets and slices clean.

crispy golden onion topping on finished air fryer green bean casserole

Variations, Swaps & Add-Ins for Green Bean Casserole

Cheesy Upgrade: Stir ½ cup shredded cheddar into the filling or sprinkle Parmesan over the top for savory bite.
Bacon & Shallot: Add ½ cup cooked, crumbled bacon and ¼ cup sautéed shallots for smoky-sweet depth.
Garlic & Herb: ½ tsp garlic powder + pinch of thyme or parsley brighten the creamy sauce.
Gluten-Free: Use GF fried onions and a GF condensed soup or homemade version.
Fresh Mushroom Boost: Quickly sauté sliced mushrooms in butter; fold into the sauce for extra texture.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Reheating Air Fryer Green Bean Casserole

Make-ahead: Assemble the casserole (without the final onion topping) up to 24 hours in advance; cover and refrigerate. Air fry 1–2 extra minutes to heat through, then add onions and crisp as directed.

Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in a covered dish for 3–4 days.

Reheat: Air fry at 350°F for 6–8 minutes; add fresh onions during the last 2 minutes to restore crunch. Microwaving works in a pinch but softens the topping.

Making a Full 9×13 Batch

serving large batch of baked green bean casserole

Feeding a crowd? Double everything and bake in two air-fryer batches or switch to the oven at 350°F for 25–30 minutes. Avoid deep 9×13 pans in the air fryer—restricted airflow leads to uneven heating and a less-crisp top.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use fresh or frozen green beans to make green bean casserole in the air fryer?

Yes. For fresh, trim and blanch 3–5 minutes, then shock in ice water and pat dry. For frozen, thaw completely and dry well. Both options reduce excess moisture so the sauce stays creamy, not watery.

Can I make it without canned soup?

Absolutely. Substitute about 1½ cups of homemade condensed soup (try this Culinary Hill version) to control ingredients and salt.

Why did my casserole turn watery?

Usually excess moisture. Drain canned beans thoroughly; blanch and dry fresh beans; thaw and pat dry frozen. Keep layers shallow (≈2 inches) and don’t cover during cooking so steam can escape.

serving creamy air fryer green bean casserole on plate

Air Fryer Tips & Tricks You’ll Love

Creamy Baked Green Beans

A fun and delicious way to make everyone’s favorite creamy baked green beans in the air fryer.

No ratings yet

Print Pin Rate

Prep Time: 5

Cook Time: 10

Total Time: 15

Serves: 4

Adjust Servings: 4

Equipment

Large mixing bowl
Rubber spatula
Oven-safe dish
Air Fryer

Ingredients

1 can Cream of mushroom soup
2 cans Green beans, drained
¼ cup Milk
1 tsp Soy sauce
1 ⅓ cup French fried onions

Instructions

In a bowl, mix the cream of mushroom soup, with milk, and soy sauce. Then, mix in the green beans. Finally, mix in 2/3 cup of french fried onions.
Place the mixture in an oven safe dish that fits in your air fryer basket (like the cake barrel air fryer casserole or air fryer silicone pot).
Air fry for 8 minutes at 350 °F/176 °C. Add another 2/3 cup of onions to the top of the casserole and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
Remove from the air fryer basket and enjoy!